Evan intensifies en route to Fiji

TROPICAL cyclone Evan that killed at least four people in Samoa is intensifying as it heads towards Fiji.

About eight people are still missing in Samoa, where the cyclone damaged houses, knocked down power poles and trees and caused flooding.

The cyclone is expected to pass just north of Fiji on Sunday with winds gusting up to 230km/h, the Fiji Meteorological Service said. It may increase from a category four to a category five cyclone.

The service expected damaging waves to batter the Fiji coastline.

A state of disaster was declared in Samoa, where 200,000 people live, after Evan swept in from the Pacific and hit the capital, Apia, on the main island of Upolu on Thursday.

At least two children are among the dead. There are nationwide blackouts and it may take two months to restore power to some areas. A water treatment plant has also been destroyed.

Up to 3000 people were being housed in emergency shelters due to flooding on Saturday.

The New Zealand government has provided $NZ50,000 ($40,000) in aid to Samoa and a P-3 Orion plane to survey the area. Its high commissioner to Samoa, Nick Hurley, said cyclone Evan was the worst to hit Samoa since the 1990s.

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, said Australia had offered humanitarian assistance to Samoa, and AusAID personnel were in Apia to assist in relief co-ordination.

He said Australians concerned about friends or relatives should phone the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135.

Residents in Tonga were warned of flooding and damaging gale-force winds on Saturday and Sunday.

AAP

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